LiBRftRV OF CONGRESS 1 



020 975 504 fl 



PUBLIC ACTS 



RELATING TO 



COMMON SCHOOLS, 



IN FORCE IN THE 



STATE OF CONNECTICUT, 



JA.]SrUA.R.Y, 1866. 




FROM TUB REVISED STATUTES OF THE STATE, PUBLISHED BT 
AUTHORITY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JAN., 1866. 



HARTFORD: 

PRINTED FOR THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 
1866. 



PUBLIC ACTS 



RELATING TO 



COMMON SCHOOLS, 



IN FORCE IN THE 



STATE OF CONNECTICUT, L.« 

J-A.NXJ^RY, 1866. 




FROM THE REVISED STATUTES OF THE STATE, PUBLISHED BY 
AUTHORITY OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, JAN., 1866. 



HARTFORD: 

PRINTED FOR THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

1866. 



u^^ 






CASE, LOCKWOOD AND- COMPANY, PKINTERS. 



PiEYISED STiTUTES, (1866,) TITLE XYL 



CHAPTER III.* 
OF COMMON SCHOOLS. 

1. — BOARD or EDUCATION. 

Sectionb. * Sections. 

25. Board of education, how constituted ; Ten- 29. His compensation. 

ure of office ; vacancies how supplied. 30. Incidental expenses of the board, how paid. 

26. Powers and duties of board. 32. Teachers' conventions, manner of holding. 

27. Secretary of board, how appointed. 33. Notice of such conventions to be given. • 
27, 28, and 31. His duties. 

Sect. 25. There shall be appointed, by the general assembly, four 
persons, to be selected one from each congressional district in the state, 
who, together with the governor and lieutenant-governor, shall consti- 
tute and be denominated the " Board of Education," and the persons 
so appointed shall hold their offices for the" term of four years; but 
the first person named in said board shall go out of office at the end 
of one year, the next named at the end of two years, and so of the 
remaining members, one retiring each year in the oi'der in which they 
are named, till the whole board be changed, and the governor and 
lieutenant-governor may fill, till the next session of the general assem- 
bly, all vacancies in said board which may occur from death, resigna- 
tion, or otherwise. 

Sect. 26. The board of education shall have general supervision 
and control of the educational interests pf the state; it shall have 
power to direct what books shall be used in all the schools of the state ; 
shall prescribe the form of registers to be kept in the schools, and the 
form of blanks and inquiries for the returns to be made by the school 
committees ; shall annually, on or before the third Wednesday in May, 
lay before the general assembly a report, containing a printed abstract 
of said returns, and a detailed repoi't of all the doings of the board, 
with such observations upon the condition and efficiency of the system 
of popular education, and such suggestions, as to the best means of 
improving it, as the experience and reflection of the board may dictate. 

Sect. 27. The board may appoint its own secretary, who, under 
its direction, shall make the abstracts required by the preceding sec- 
tion ; he shall also suggest to the board, and to the general assembly, 
improvements in the system of public schools, and in the management 
of the normal school ; shall visit, as often as his other duties will per- 
mit, different parts of the state, for the purpose of awakening and 
guiding public sentiment in relation to the practical interests of edu- 
cation; shall collect, in his office, such school-books, apparatus, maps, 

* Chapters I. and II. of this title, containing Sections 1—24, relate to colleges and to the Nor- 
mal School. 



and charts, as can be obtained without expense to the state ; receive 
and arrange, in his office, the reports, and returns of the school com- 
jnittees, and receive, preserve, or distribute, the state documents in re- 
lation to the pubHc schools. 

Sect. 28. He shall, under the direction of the board, give suffi- 
cient notice of such meetings of teachers of public schools, members 
of school committees of the several towns, and friends of education, 
generally, in any county, as may voluntarily assemble at such time and 
place as may be designated by the board, and shall at such meetings 
collect information as to the public schools of the county, of the fulfill- 
ment of the duties of their office by members of school committees, 
and school visitors, and of the circumstances of the school districts in 
regard to pupils, teachers, books, apparatus, and methods of education, 
to enable him to furnish all information desired for the report of the 
board of education; he shall send the blank forms of inquiry, the 
school registers, the annual report of the board, and his own annual 
reports, to the clerks of the several towns and cities, as soon as they 
are ready for distribution. 

Sect. 29. He shall receive from the treasury an annual salary of 
eighteen hundred dollars, and his necessary traveling expenses incurred 
in the performance of his official duties, after they shall have been 
audited and approved by the board, and all postages, and other neces- 
sary expen'ses, arising in his office, shall be paid from the treasury, in 
the same manner as those of the other departments of the government. 

Sect. 30. The incidental expenses of the board, and the expenses 
of the members thereof, incurred in the discharge of their official du- 
ties, shall be paid out of the treasury, after their accounts shall have 
been audited and allowed. 

Sect. 31. The secretary of the board of education shall exercise 
a general supervision over the common schools of the state ; shall col- 
lect information from school visitors in the manner provided in the one 
hundred and fifth section of this act, and from other sources; shall 
prepare and submit an annual report to the general assembly, con- 
taining a statement of the condition of the common schools of the 
state, plans and suggestions for the improvement and better organiza- 
tion of the common school system, and all such matters relating to bis 
office, and to the interests of education, as he shall deem expedient to 
communicate. 

Sect. 32. He is hereby authorized and directed to hold, at one 
convenient place in each county of the state, schools or conventions 
of teachers, for the purpose of instructing in the best modes of gov- 
erning and teaching common schools; and for the purpose of defraying 
the expenses of each school or convention so held, the said secretary 
may draw upon the comptroller for a sum not exceeding one hundred 
and twenty dollars, to be paid from the civil list funds of the state. 

Sect. 33. The said secretary shall give seasonable notice to each 
town of the times and places of holding such schools or conventions, 
and such other notice to teachers as he may deem expedient. 



2. — ^PKOPERTY OF SCHOOL SOCIETIES TRANSFERRED TO TOWNS, 

Sections. Sections. 

34. Towns to provide for support of common 41. Funds, buildings, &c., of sucli school socie- 
schools, to assume liabilities of former school ties to remain as heretofore. 

societies. 42. Board of education in such district have 

35. School districts confirmed. powers and duties of school visitors. 

36. Records of school societies to be preserved 43. Keturns to be made to this board. 

with records of towns. 44. They may appoint an acting school visitor. 

37. Towns to hold local funds | funds to be di- 45. Authority of towns ; board of visitors re- 
vided in certain cases. stricted in such towns. 

38. Manner of such division. 46. Comptroller to draw orders for public money 

39. School societies formed under act of 1855 to for such district, on application of board of 
become school districts ; to choose board of education. 

education ; powers and duties of such board. 

40. Any school society may avaU itself of same 
privileges. 

Sect. 34. The several towns within this state shall provide for the 
support of common schools within their respective limits, and all debts, 
legal obligations, or pecuniary trusts, of any school society heretofore 
existing, which pertains to schools, shall remain in full force against 
the town or towns within which such school society was situated. 

Sect. 35. The school districts established by law shall remain 
school districts of the towns within which they are situated, subject to 
certain limitations and exceptions hereinafter mentioned. 

Sect. 86. The records of school societies shall be deposited and 
for ever kept with the records of the towns in which such school soci- 
eties were situated ; and where any school society lies within the limits 
of two or more towns, the records of such society shall be deposited 
and kept with the records of the town within which the greater part 
of the territory of such society lies. And said records, whether they 
appear to have been made at a meeting, held in pursuance of a warn- 
ing, or otherwise, or whether informal or otherwise, provided the same 
can be clearly understood, are hereby validated and confirmed. 

Sect. 37. All the funds, buildings, and property of every kind, 
heretofore held for school purposes by the school societies, shall vest 
in the towns within which such school societies are situated, to be held 
by such towns for the purposes for which the same were held by the 
societies. Where there were two or more school societies within the 
limits of any one town, and any of such school societies had a perma- 
nent fund for the support of schools, such fund shall be held in trust 
by said town for the support of schools for the inhabitants of the ter- 
ritory, formerly embraced within such school society; and where any 
school society lay within the limits of two or more towns, and was 
possessed of any permanent fund, such fund shall be divided between, 
or among, such towns, and the portions so distributed shall be held by 
such towns, in trust, for the support of schools for the inhabitants of 
that portion of such school society, lying within said town ; and where 
any such school society was indebted, such indebtedness shall, in the 
same manner, be divided between or among said towns. 

Sect. 38. When it shall be necessary to distribute any fund, or 
divide any indebtedness, between or among different towns, in the 
manner provided by the preceding section, such distribution or division 
shall be made by the selectmen of said towns ; and if they can not 



agi'ee, then, upon application of the selectmen of either town, by a 
committee of tlii-ee disinterested persons, to be appointed by the supe-* 
rior court within the county, in which either of such towns shall be 
situated, who shall make report to said court, which report, when ac- 
cepted by said court, shall be final in the premises; and the report of 
such committee, or the agreement of the selectmen, shall be recorded 
at length upon the records of each of said towns. 

Sect. 39. School societies, heretofore organized under the act of 
1855, entitled "an act in addition to and in alteration of an act con- 
cerning education," which are not co-extensive with the towns within 
which they are situated, shall become school districts of said towns, 
with all the powers and duties of school districts, as specified in this 
act, with the following exceptions, viz : such school districts shall an- 
nually choose, on the third Monday of September in each year,instead 
of a district committee, a board of education, consisting of three, six, 
or nine persons, in the manner prescribed in this act, for the election 
of school visitors ; and said board of education shall have all the pow- 
ers and be subject to all the duties imposed on the district committees ; 
and, in addition thereto, shall have the general charge and superin- 
tendence of the common schools within their district, and the care and 
the management of the property and funds of the district ; they shall lodge 
all bonds, leases, notes, and other securities, with the treasurer of said 
district, unless the same have been intrusted to others by the donors, 
or grantors, or by the general assembly; they shall pay into the treas- 
ury of the district all moneys which they may receive for the support 
of schools; they shall determine the number and qualifications of the 
scholars to be admitted into each school; shall supply the requisite 
number of qualified teachers; shall, annually, during the first two 
weeks of the month of September, ascertain the expense of supporting 
and maintaining thfe schools under their superintendence, dui-ing the 
year ending the thirty-first day of the previous August, and report the 
same, together with the amount of moneys received towards the pay- 
ment thereof, to the district at a meeting to be held on the third Mon- 
day in September in each year; and shall, at the same time, make a 
full report of their doings, and the condition of the schools under their 
superintendence, and all important matters concerning the same, to the 
district, and shall perform all lawful acts which may be required of 
them by the district, and which may be necessary to carry into eifect 
the powers and duties granted by this act. 

Sect. 40. All existing school societies, in whicli school districts 
have been abolished, may avail themselves of the privileges specified 
in the preceding sections. 

Sect. 41. The funds, buildings, and all other property of the 
school societies, specified in the two preceding sections, shall not be 
affected by this act, but shall remain, as heretofore, under the care and 
management of said school societies. 

Sect. 42. The board of education, appointed by any school dis- 
trict, organized under the thirty-ninth and fortieth sections of this act, 
shall possess all the poAvers, and be subject to all the duties within said 
district, which are possessed by the board of school visitors in the sev- 



eral towns, and shall make their annual report to the secretary of the 
board of education, and their returns and certificates directly to tlie 
comptroller. 

Sect. 43. All the returns, by law required to be made by the dis- 
trict committee or clerk of such district, shall be made to said board of 
education. 

Sect. 44. Said board of education shall have full power to appoint 
an acting schbol visitor in said district, who shall possess, within said 
district, all the powers, and be subject to all the duties by law pos- 
sessed by, and imposed upon, similar officers appoiilted by the board 
of school visitors of the several towns. 

Sect. 45. The authority of the board of school visitors of the 
town, in which said district is situated, shall extend only to the re- 
maining portion of said town, and their returns and certificates shall 
include only the children in such remaining portion. 

Sect. 46. The comptroller of public accounts, on the application 
of the board of education of such district, shall draw an order in favor 
of such district, on the treasurer, for the proportionate amount, to 
which such district may be entitled, of all moneys appropriated by 
law for the benefit, support, and encouragement of common schools, as 
is provided in respect to towns ; and the town in which said district is 
situated shall be entitled to receive only its proportionate amount of 
such public money, for the children in the remaining portion of said 
town. 

3. — duties of towns. 

Sectioks. Sections. 

47. School Tisitors, how appointed. 56. Towns forfeit public money, unless returns 

48. Vacancies, how filled. are made. 

49. Towns having permanent fund, to elect 57. Towns to lay tax for support of schools, 
school fund treasurer. 58. Forfeiture for neglect to tax. 

60. Powers of towns. 59. Towns may take land for school-houses. 

51. Towns to transact school business in town 60. School visitors to draw on ■ town treasurer- 
meetings, for "public money. 

52. Duties of selectmen respecting schools. 61. School districts may be consolidated. 

53. Higher schools to be regulated by school 62. Town to appoint committee for consolida' 
visitors. ted districts. 

54. Towns may choose committee for higher 63. When district may appeal from action of 



55. When town fails to appoint such commit- 64. When appeal may be taken. 
tee, school visitors shall appoint it. 65. Appeal, how disposed of. 

66. Lines, how to be altered. 

Sect. 47. Every town shall elect by ballot a board of school vis- 
itors, which shall consist of three, six, or nine members, each of 
whom shall hold his ofiice for three years, and until another is chosen 
in his place. Said board shall be divided into three classes, and the 
term of office of each class shall expire at the same time, and in such 
manner as to make a regular vacancy in the board, of one class an- 
nually. Should any vacancy occur by death, resignation, or other- 
wise, the remaining members of the board may fill such vacancy, 
until the next annual meeting of the town. 

Sect. 48. At every annual meeting of the town, all vacancies in 
the board shall be filled, by an election of the necessary members by 



8 

ballot ; any member, elected to fill an irregular vacancy, shall hold 
his office only for the unexpired term of his predecessor. 

Sect. 49. In case any town shall have received any permanent 
funds from any school society within its limits, such town shall annu- 
ally elect, by ballot, a school fund treasurer, who shall have the charge 
of such funds, and keep a separate account of the same, and make 
an annual report to the town of the condition of said funds, and of 
his disbursements of the same, and who shall givie bond, with security, 
to the satisfaction of the selectmen of the town, for the faithful dis- 
charge of the duties of his office. 

Sect. 50. The towns shall have power to establish and maintain 
common schools of different grades within their limits ; to purchase, 
receive and hold any real and personal property for school purposes, 
and to convey the same ; to build and repair school-houses ; to lay 
taxes, and to make all lawful contracts, and to adopt all lawful regu- 
lations and measures for the education of the children of the town. 

Sect. 51. The business of the towns, relating to schools, shall be 
transacted at regular and special town meetings, in the same manner, 
and subject to the same regulations, as other town business. 

Sect. 52. The selectmen shall have the care and management 
of any property, or funds, appertaining to schools, and belonging to 
the town, and shall lodge all bonds, leases, notes, and other securities, 
with the treasurer, except so far as the same shall have been, or shall 
be, intrusted to others by the donor, or grantor, or by the genex-al as- 
sembly, or by the town ; they shall pay to the treasurer all money 
which they may collect and receive for the use of schools ; they shall 
settle and describe the boundary lines of any new school district, or 
of any existing district, or parts of a district, within their limits, 
where the lines are not now settled, and described, when applied to 
by the district, and shall cause the same to be entered on the records 
of the town ; they shall designate the time, place, and object, of hold- 
ing the first meeting in any new district, and perform all other lawful 
acts which may be required of them by the town, or which may be 
necessary to carry into full effect the powers of towns with regard to 
schools. 

Sect. 53. Whenever any town shall maintain any school of a 
higher grade, for the older and more advanced children of either sex, 
the board of school visitors of such town shall prescribe rules and 
regulations for the admission of scholars into such schools, and for 
the studies, books, and classification of the same ; and shall examine 
all candidates for teachers in such school, and shall give to those 
persons, with whose moral character, and literary attainments, and 
ability to teach, they are satisfied, a certificate, setting forth the 
branches he is found capable of teaching ; and shall visit such school, 
at least twice during each season for schooling, and may annul the 
certificate of any teacher in the manner and for the cause provided 
in the one hundred and fourth section of this act ; and said school 
shall receive such proportion of all money, provided for the support 
of common schools in such town, as the number of scholars, attend- 



9 

ing such high school, shall bear to the whole number attending all the 
other common schools of the town. 

Sect. 54. Such town maj, at its annual meeting, or at any meet- 
ing specially warned for that purpose, choose, by ballot, a committee 
of not more than five residents of the town, who shall have all the 
powers, and discharge all the duties, in relation to such schools, as 
are by law imposed upon district committees, in relation to district 
schools. 

Sect. 55. Whenever any town shall fail to elect a committee, as 
provided in the preceding section, the board of school visitors of such 
town shall appoint a committee who shall have the powers and dis- 
charge the duties provided in the said section. 

Sect. 56, No town shall be entitled to receive its share of the 
public money from the treasury of the state, unless the report, re- 
quired by the one hundred and fifth section of this act, shall have 
been made by the school visitors to the secretary of the board of edu- 
cation. 

Sect. 57. Each of the towns in this state shall annually, on or 
before the first day of March, raise by taxation such a sum of money 
as they may deem advisable, not less than three-tenths of a mill on 
the dollar, on the grand list on said first of March last made and per- 
fected, and cause the same to be paid into the treasury of the several 
towns, respectively, for the benefit, support, and encouragement of 
common schools ; and the whole amount of money so raised shall be 
annually distributed to the several school districts within each town, 
under the direction of the selectmen and school visitors. 

Sect. 58. If any town shall neglect to raise such sum of money, 
in the manner and within the time limited in the preceding section, 
or shall fail to distribute the .same according to the provisions of said 
section, such town shall forfeit, to the treasurer of the state, a sum 
equal to the amount which it was the duty of such town to raise as 
aforesaid, to be recovered by said treasurer in an action upon the 
case. 

Sect. 59. Towns shall have the same powers, and be subject to. 
the same regulations, in taking land for school houses, out-buildings, 
and convenient accommodations for schools, as are conferred on 
school districts in the eighty-ninth, ninetieth, ninety-first, ninety- 
second, ninety-third, and ninety-fourth, sections of this act. 

Sect. 60. Every town, in lawful meeting, may authorize the 
school visitors in said town to draw an order on the town treasurer, 
in favor of such districts, as have kept their schools, in all respects, 
according to law, for their proportion of all the public moneys, re- 
ceived from the school fund for the use of the schools,, in the hands of 
the treasurer, in proportion to the number of persons, between the 
ages of four and sixteen years, in each district. 

Sect. 61. Any town may, at any time, consolidate all the school 

districts therein in one district, to be known as the school district of 

(name of town), and shall thereupon forthwith take posses-. 

sion of all school-houses, land, apparatus, and other property owned 



10 

and used for school purposes, which such districts might la\/fully sell 
and convey ; but no such consolidation shall take effect, until a ma- 
jority of the school districts in the town shall, by a majority vote, in 
meetings legally warned, approve thereof. The property so taken 
shall be appraised under the direction of the town, and at the next 
annual assessment thereafter, a tax shall be levied upon the whole 
town, equal to the amount of said appraisal ; and there shall be re- 
mitted to the tax payers of each district the appraised value of its 
property thus taken ; or the difference, in the value of the property 
of the several districts, may be adjusted in any other manner agreed 
upon by the parties in interest. 

Sect. 62. Whenever any town shall consolidate its school dis- 
tricts, as provided in the preceding section, such town may, at its an- 
nual meeting, or at any special meeting called for such purpose, elect, 
by ballot, a committee of the town, not exceeding five persons in num- 
ber, who shall have all the powers, and discharge all the duties, in 
relation to such school, which are, by law, imposed upon district com- 
mittees in relation to district schools. 

Sect. 63. Whenever application shall be made to a town to form, 
alter, or dissolve, a school district, any district aggrieved by the action, 
or neglect of action of the town, in the premises, may appeal from 
such action or neglect of said town, to the superior court of the pounty 
in which such town is situated. 

Sect. 64. Such appeal may be taken to either of the next two 
terms, succeeding the action or neglect appealed from, and shall be 
made by a brief statement, that such appeal is taken, by whom, and 
the subject-matter of such appeal, signed by the proper agent or at- 
torney of the appellants, to which shall be annexed a citation, signed 
by proper authority, notifying the appellees to appear at the court to 
which such appeal is taken ; and service thereof shall be made by 
some proper officer, leaving a true and attested copy of such appeal 
and citation with the town clerk, or one of the selectmen, of such 
town, and with the clerk, or one of the district committee, of any 
other district interested, at least twelve days before the session of the 
court to which the same is made returnable. 

Sect. 65. Said court shall hear the parties, and shalf have the 
same powers to act upon said application that said town by law had ; 
and if said court sees fit, it may appoint a committee to report the 
facts and their opinion thereon ; and the final decree of said court in 
the premises shall be recorded in the records of_said town; and said 
court shall have full power, as to the allowance and taxation of costs, 
including the fees for the surveys, and copies and recording of such 
decree. 

Sect. 66. No alteration of the lines, so fixed by such decree, shall 
be made, except by the superior court of such county ; and such 
court shall have original jurisdiction of any application for the pur- 
pose, made by any district interested. 



11 



4.— SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 

SectidSS. Sectioks: 

67. Towns may alter and dissolve districts. 8i. District committee's duties. 

68. Notice to be given of cliange of taxable Sp. Powers and duties of clerlij treasurer, and 
property from one district to anotlier. collector. 

69. School districts formed from two or more 86. Treasurer and collector to give bonds if 
towns, where to belong. required. 

70. Property in such districts, how taxed. 87 Fixing or changing site of a school -house. 

71. When districts are consolidated or divided, 88 When district does not support a school, 
corporate property, how disposed of. to whom school money paid. 

72. Real estate, how divided. 89-^93. How district may take land for site of 

73. Districts may allow school-houses to be school-house. 

used for private schools. 94. Extending provisions of five preceding sec 

74. Union districts under act of 1841, how to tions to other cases. 

be regulated. 95. How school-house shall be built. 

75. Annual meeting of district, when held. 96. Money from school fund to be withheld if 
Special meetings, when to be called. school-house, &c., are not satisfactory. 

76. Place of meeting. 97. Enumeration of children in districts lying 

77. Notice of meetings to_be given. In two or more towns 

78. Who may vote in district meetings. 98. District or committee may fix rate of tui- 

79. Name or number and limits of districts tion. Exemption of persons unable to pay j 
to be recorded. abatements to be paid by towns. 

80. Settlement of boundaries of districts. 99 Eate of tuition limited. 

81. Corporate power of school districts. 100. How fixed and assessed. 

82. District officers, who, when, and how cho- 101. Tuition bills, how made out and collected, 
sen. Penalty for neglect of duty. 102. Application for abatements, when to be 

83. District failing to appoint officers, visitors made, 
shall appoint. 

Sect. 67. Each town shall have power to form, alter, and dis- 
solve, school districts within its limits, and any two or more towns 
may foi-m school districts of adjoining portions of their ssveral towns, 
and may alter and dissolve the same; but no new district shall be 
formed, which shall contain less than forty persons, between the ages 
of four and sixteen years ; and the jurisdiction of towns, for such pur- 
poses, shall extend to districts, specially incorporated by act of the 
general assembly, in the same manner as to others. 

Sect. 68. Whenever it shall be proposed to remove persons, or 
taxable property, from one district and annex the same to another 
district, the district, from which such persons or property are to be 
removed, shall be notified of such proposed alteration, by having a 
copy of the same lodged with the clerk of the district, at least fifteen 
days before the town is called to act upon said alteration. 

Sect. 69. Every school district, heretofore formed from parts of 
two or more towns, shall, for all school purposes, belong to the town 
within which the school-house of said district is situated, unless such 
towns shall make some other agreement, with regard to the jurisdic- 
tion over such district; and in all cases, where any district shall here- 
after be so formed, the towns, from which the same are so formed, 
shall, in theformation of such district, agree as lo the particular town 
to which such district shall belong ; but the inhabitants of such dis- 
trict shall have no right to vote in town meeting in any other town 
than that within which they reside. 

Sect. 70. The property of the inhabitants of a district, formed 
from two or more towns, may be taxed for school purposes in the town 
to which such district pertains ; but, for all other purposes, shall be 
taxable in the town in which such inhabitants reside. 



12 

Sect. 71. When any two or more districts shall be consolidated 
into one, the new district shall own all the corporate property of the 
several districts ; and when a district shall be divided, the funds and 
propei'ty, or the income and proceeds thereof, belonging to such dis- 
trict, shall be distributed among the several parts, in proportion to the 
number of persons, between the ages of four and sixteen years in 
each ; and in case the distribution shall not be made before the district 
is divided, and the several parts can not agree, the selectmen of the 
town shall distribute the same. 

Sect. 72. Whenever, on any such division of any such school 
district, the only, or principal, pi'operty of said district shall consist 
of a school-house, and real estate connected therewith, which can not 
be divided between the several parts of said district, without great 
inconvenience, the selectmen of the town, instead of dividing such 
school-house and real estate, shall set such school-house and real 
estate to one part, and award that the other part or parts shall receive, 
from the part to which such school-house and real estate are set, such 
sum of money as shall, in the judgment of such selectmen, be just 
and right, and such award shall be binding upon the several parts of 
such district. 

Sect. 73. Any school district may allow its school-house to be 
used for a private school, whenever the same is not used for a public 
school, by vote of a majority of the legal voters, present at any meet- 
ing of the district, legally called for that purpose. 

Sect. 74. All associations under the statute of 1841, allowing 
any two or more adjoining school districts to associate together, and 
form a union district, entered into before the repeal of said statute, 
shall continue to be managed and regulated, according to the provis- 
ions of the statute of 1841, any law or usage to the contrary not- 
withs'anding. 

Sect. 75. Every school district shall hold an annual meeting, on 
such day in the months of August or September in each year, as the 
committee, or elerk of the district, in the notice thereof, may desig- 
nate, for the choice of officers, and for the transaction of any other 
business, relating to schools in said district ; and shall also hold a 
special meeting whenever the same shall be duly called ; and the dis- 
trict committee may call a special meeting, whenever such committee 
may think necessary or proper, and shall call a special meeting, on 
the written request of iSve residents, therein qualified to vote ; which 
request shall state the object of calling the same. 

Sect. 76. District meetings shall be held at the district school- 
house ; if there be no suitable school-house, the committee shall de- 
termine the place of meeting ; if there be no committee, the clerk 
shall determin,e the same ; if there be no committee and no clerk, the 
selectmen of the town, to which such district belongs, shall determine 
the place of meeting, which shall, in all cases, be within the limits of 
the district. 

Sect. 77. Notice of the time, place, and object, of every annual 
and special meeting of the district, shall be given, at least five days 
inclusive, previous to holding the same. The district committee, or, 



13 

if there be no such committee, the clerk, or, if there be no commit- 
tee and no clerk, the selectmen of the town, shall give notice of a dis- 
trict meeting, either by publishing the same in a newspaper printed in 
the district, or, by putting notice on the district school-house, or on 
the sign-post within the district, or in some other mode previously 
designated by the district ; but if there be no such newspaper, school- 
house, or sign-post, or other mode so designated, the selectmen of the 
town, to which said district belongs, shall determine how and where 
the notice shall be given. The person or persons, giving such notice, 
shall, on the day of giving the notice, leave a duplicate of the same 
with the clerk of the district, who shall preserve it on file.* 

Sect. 78. Every person, residing in the district, qualified to vote 
in town meeting, may vote in district meetings ; and every meeting 
may choose its own moderator, and may adjourn from time to time to 
meet at the same, or some other place. Every person, who shall vote 
illegally in any school district meeting, shall forfeit the sum of seven- 
teen dollars to the treasurer of the county where the offense is com- 
mitted ; and the attorneys for the state in the several counties, and 
grand jurors in the several towns, shall make presentment of every 
such offense. 

Sect. 79. The name, or number, and limits, of every school dis- 
trict shall be entered on the records of such district^ and on the records 
of the town, to which such district belongs. 

Sect. 80. Whenever the boundary lines of any district are not 
clearly settled and defined, the selectmen of the town, in which said 
district is situated, shall settle and define the same ; and whenever 
said selectmen can not agree in settling and defining such boundary 
lines, the town, to which such district belongs, may appoint three in- 
different persons for that purpose, who shall have the same authority 
therein as is herein conferred upon said selectmen, and said boundary 
lines may, in either case, when necessary, be defined by an actual 
survey ; and when parts of such districts lie in two or more towns, 
the selectmen of the towns, in which any such part is situated, or, in 
case of disagreement, indifferent persons, appointed as aforesaid shall 
settle and define the boundary lines of such part. 

Sect. 81. Every school district shall be a body corporate, and 
shall have power to sue and be sued, to purchase, receive, hold and 
convey, real or personal property for school purposes ; to build, pur- 
chase, hire, and repair school-houses, and to supply the same with fuel, 
furniture, and other appendages and accommodations ; to establish 
schools of different grades ; to purchase maps, globes, blackboards, 
and other school appai^atus ; to establish and maintain a school library ; 
to employ one or more teachers, and shall be holden to pay the wages 
of any such teacher or teachers, as are employed by the committee 
of such district in conformity to kw ; to lay taxes for all the forego- 
ing purposes ; to borrow money for any purpose for which it may lay 

* Object of meeting, how expressed in warningi meeting when opened; presump- 
tions in regard to record- South School Dist. v. Blakely, 13 C. R., 327. 

What is a sufficient warning. Bartlett v. Kingsley, 15 C. E. 827. Various points 
n relation to school meetings. Same. 



14 

a tax, and to make all lawful agreements and regulations for estab- 
lishing and conducting school?, not inconsistent with the regulations 
of the town to which said district belongs.* 

Sect. 82. Each school district shall choose, by ballot, at the an- 
nual meeting, a committee of not more than three residents of the dis- 
trict, a clerk, who shall be sworn, and a treasurer and collector, who 
shall hold their respective offices until the next annual meeting, and 
until others are chosen and appointed ; and any person so chosen, 
who shall refuse or neglect to perform the duties of the office, shall 
pay five dollars to the treasurer of the district, for the uscof said dis- 
trict ; but any new district may choose its officers at its first, or at any 
subsequent meeting, called by the selectmen of the town, who shall 
hold their offices till the annual meeting of such school district.f 

Sect. 83. If any district, at the time for the annual meeting, 
shall fail, or neglect, to appoint all, or any, of the officers required by 
this act, or if any vacancy shall occur by death, removal from the 
district, or otherwise, the school visitors of the town, to which such 
district belongs, shall make such appointment, and fill such vacancy, 
on receiving written notice thereof from any three members of the 
district, and shall lodge the name or names of such officers, so ap- 
pointed, with the district clerk. 

Sect. 84. The district committee shall give notice of all meet- 
ings of the district, in the manner prescribed ; shall, unless otherwise 
directed by the district, employ one or more qualified teachers ; shall 
provide suitable school-rooms, and furnish the same with fuel properly 
prepared ; shall visit the schools, by one or more of their number, 
twice at least during each season of schooling ; shall, when the schol- 
ars are not properly supplied with books, and their parents or guard- 
ians are too poor to furnish them, provide the same at the expense of 
the district ; shall suspend, during pleasure, or expel from school, 
during the current season, all pupils found guilty, on full hearing, of 
incorrigibly bad conduct, and shall give such information and assist- 
ance to the school visitors of the town as they may require, and per- 
form all other lawful acts, that may be necessary to carry into full 
effect the powers and duties of school districts. | 

Sect. 85. The clerk, treasurer, and collector, of each school dis- 
trict, shall exercise the same powers, and perform the same duties, 
in their respective districts, as the clerk, treasurer, and collector of 
towns do, in their respective towns. 

Sect. 86. The inhabitants of each district, in lawful meeting^ 

* A school district may be sued, and property of its inhabitants may be taken to 
satisfy the Judgment. McLoud v. Selby, 10 C. R. 390. 

As to the kind of laouse a school district may build. See Sheldon «. Center School 
District, 25 C. E. 224. District can not change the site of its school-house without a 
two- thirds vote. Colt v. Roberts, 28 C. R. 330. 

School-houses may not be used for religious meetings. Scofield v. Eighth School 
District, 27 C. R. 499. 

t Taking the oath at any time before making the record, sufficient. Bartlett v. 
Kinsley, 15 C. R. 327. 

J The provision of this section, authorizing the committee to provide school-rooms, 
does not authorize a change of the site of the schaol-house without the requisite vote. 
Colt V. Roberts. 28 C. R. 3ao. 



15 

shall have power to require that the treasurer and collector shall 
respectively give bonds to the district, for the faithful discharge of 
the duties of their respective offices, which bonds shall be approved 
by the district committee, before the treasurer or collector shall enter 
on the duties of his office. 

Sect. ,87. The vote of two-thirds of any legal meeting shall be 
necessary to fix the site of a new school-house, or to change the site 
of kn old one ; but if such two-thirds vote can not be obtained in 
favor of any site, the school visitors of the town, or the school visit- 
ors of the towns, in which such district is located, on application of 
the district, shall fix the site, and make return thereof to the clerk of 
the town in which such site shall be. 

Sect. 88. Whenever a school district, from inability or other 
cause, shall not support a school within the same, and the scholars 
belonging thereto shall attend the school of any other district, the 
town, where the enumeration of the children is made and returned, 
may receive the proportion of school moneys, which are drawn on 
the children so enumerated, from the comptroller of public accounts, 
and pay the same over to the district or districts where such children 
actually attend school ; and a certificate from the committee of the 
school district, where such children have attended school, that the 
money is so appropriated, shall be presented to the selectmen of the 
town to which such children belong, and shall be sufficient evidence 
that such money has been appropriated according to law. 

Sect. 89. Any school district may take land, which has been 
fixed upon by it, as the site of a school-house for a common school, 
and which is necessary for that purpose, and for necessary outbuild- 
ings, and convenient accommodations for its schools, upon paying to 
the owner just compensation therefor. If the school district, wishing 
to take land for the purpose aforesaid, can not agree with the owner, 
upon the compensation to be paid him therefor, it may prefer its pe- 
tition to the superior court, to be held in the county in which the land 
lies, praying that such compensation may be ascertained and deter- 
mined by said court. The said petition shall be accompanied by a 
summons, signed by competent authority, notifying the owner of the 
land to be taken, to appear before the court to which the petition is 
returnable, and shall be served in the same manner as is provided by 
law for the service of other petitions ; and, upon said petition, said 
court shall appoint a committee of three judicious and disinterested 
men, who, after being sworn, and after giving reasonable notice to the 
parties, shall examine the land proposed to be taken, and, if they ap- 
prove the site, shall ascertain its value, assess such sum in favor of 
the owner as will justly compensate him therefor, and, in case of non- 
approval of said site by said committee, they shall have power to fix 
another site on land of the same owner, and proceed as aforesaid, and 
make report . of their doings to said superior court ; and said court 
may reject the report of said committee, and set aside their doings, 
for any irregular or improper conduct in the performance of their 
duties. 



16 

Sect. 90. If the report of said committee be rejected and their 
doings set aside, the court aforesaid shall appoint another committee, 
who shall proceed in the same manner as the first committee are re- 
quired to proceed by the preceding section ; but if said report shall 
be accepted by said court, such acceptance shall have the effect of a 
judgment, in favor of the owners of the land against the petitioners, 
for the amount of the assessments made by the committee, and exe- 
cution may be issued therefor accordingly ; but said land shall not be 
used or inclosed by the school district, for any purpose whatever, 
until the amount of said judgment shall be paid to the party to whom 
it is due, or deposited for his use with the treasurer of the county. 

Sect. 91. The school district, preferring the petition aforesaid, 
shall pay the committee, for making said assessment, a reasonable 
compensation for their services, which shall be taxed by the court to 
which their report is made. 

Sect. 92. Any school district wishing to take land, which has 
been fixed upon by it as the site of a school house for a common 
school, and being unable to agree with the owner of such land upon 
the compensation to be paid him therefor, may at any time when the 
superior court is not in session in the county in which such land is 
situated, prefer its petition to either judge of the superior court, pray- 
ing for the appointment of a committee, for the purposes specified in 
the eighty-ninth section of this act. Said petition shall be accompa- 
nied by a summons, signed by competent authority, notifying the 
owner of the land, proposed to be taken, to appear before the judge 
to whom such petition is brought, at a time and place specified in said 
summons, and shall be served in the same manner as is provided by 
law for the service of other petitions, at least twelve days before the 
time specified in said summons. 

Sect. 93. Any committee, so appointed, shall have all the powers 
and perform all the duties provided for committees appointed by the 
superior court, in accordance with the eighty-ninth section of this act, 
and shall make report of their doings to the next term of the supe- 
rior court, holden in the county wherein such district may be, upon 
which said superior court shall proceed, in all respects, as pi'ovided 
in said section. 

Sect. 94. The provisions of the five preceding sections shall be 
so extended and construed, as to authorize school districts to take 
land for necessary out-buildings, and convenient accommodations for 
such schools, where school-houses have been heretofore erected, as, 
well as where they are to be erected, after the proceedings therein 
authorized have been had. 

Sect. 95. Whenever a district shall have voted to erect a new 
school-house, the same shall be built, according to a plan approved 
by the board of school visitors, and by the building committee of such 
district, but such ofllicers shall not have power to require such district 
to expend any larger sum therefor, than such district shall vote to 
appropriate. 



17 

Sect. 96. °No district shall be entitled to receive any money from 
the school fund of the state, unless such district shall be supplied with 
a school-house, and out-buildings pertaining thereto, which shall be 
satisfactory to the board of school visitors. 

Sect. 97. The committee of any school district, formed from parts 
of two or more towns, shall, in their return of the names of the per- 
sons between four and sixteen years of age, to the school visitoi's of 
the towns to which such district belongs, specify the towns to which 
each person thus enumerated belongs, and shall, under oath, make re- 
turn to the school visitors in any other town, which may compose a 
part of such district, the names of those persons thus enumerated, 
whose legal residence shall be within the limits of said town, and who, 
for school purposes, are to be considered as belonging to said district. 

Sect. 98. Any school district, in lawful meeting, may fix, or au- 
thorize its district committee to fix, a rate of tuition, to be paid by the 
persons attending school, or by their parents, guardians, or employers, 
towards the expenses of instruction, fuel, books, and other expenses, 
over and above the money received from the town or state appropria- 
tions ; and the selectmen, and board of visitors, as a board, shall, on 
application of the district committee, exempt therefrom, all persons, 
whom they consider unable to pay the same ; and the selectmen shall 
draw an order on the treasurer of the town in which such district is 
located, in favor of such district, for the amount of such abatements. 

Sect. 99. The rate of tuition, fixed as aforesaid, shall not exceed 
six dollars per scholar, for each school year, or a proportionate sum 
for each term of schooling, or part of a year, except in districts where 
different grades of common schools are established, where the rate for 
the higher grades shall not exceed twelve dollars per scholar, for each 
school year. 

Sect. 100. Such rate of tuition may be fixed by a district at any 
time during the school year, or within three weeks after the close 
thereof, and shall be assessed on all the persons who may attend, or 
have attended, the school of such district during said year, or upon 
their parents, guardians, or employers; and for any person attending 
school during any part of a term, the whole tuition fee for said term 
shall be paid, except in case of absence from school on account of 
sickness, death, removal from the district, or other good reason, when 
the district committee may make a reasonable deduction from the sum 
to be paid to such person ; but in no case shall any deduction be made 
for any absence, except for a continuous absence of not less than four 
weeks. 

Sect. 101. Whenever a rate of tuition has been fixed by any 
school district, in accordance with the provisions of this act, the rate 
bill or assessment of such tuition shall be made out and signed by the 
district committee, and may be delivered to the collector of the dis- 
trict, or, if. there be no district collector, to either constable of the 
town ; and said collector or constable shall have the same power in 
the collection of the same, as is possessed by collectors of town taxes i 
and such constable shall be allowed the same fees for collecting as are 
allowed the collectors of town taxes. 
2 



18 

Sect. 102. All applications made to the selectmen Jtnd board of 
visitors for the abatement of tuition bills assessed by any district, shall 
be made within twelve months from the close of the school term, for 
which such tuition bills are due. 

5. — SCHOOL VISITORS. 

Fections. Sbctions. 

103. Duties of school risitora. , 105. Duties of acting visitors. 

104. Visitors may annul certificates of uncfuali- 106. Campensation of acting school visitors, 
fied teachers ; may appoint acting visitors. 

Sect. 103. The board of visitors shall prescribe rules and regu- 
lations for the management, studies, books, classification, and disci- 
pline, of the schools in the town; and shall themselves, or by a com- 
mittee by them appointed for that purpose, examine all candidates for 
teachers in the common schools of such town, and shall give to those 
persons, with whose moral character, and literary attainments, and 
ability to teach, they are satisfied, a certificate, setting forth the 
branches he or she is found capable of teaching ; but no certificate 
shall be given to any person not found qualified to teach reading, writ- 
ing, arithmetic, and grammar, thoroughly, and the rudiments of geog- 
raphy and history; shall visit all the common schools of said town, 
twice, at least, during each season for schooling, once within four 
weeks after the opening, and again, within four weeks preceding the 
close of the school, at which visit they shall examine the register of 
the teacher, and other matters touching the school-house, library, stud- 
ies, discipline, mode of teaching, and improvement of the school ; they 
shall make return of the number of persons over four and under six- 
teen years of age in said town to the comptroller, and draw orders on 
the same for any portion of the public money due to said town, as 
heretofore prescribed ; and they shall draw all orders on the town 
treasurer or school fund treasurer for all moneys due the common 
schools of said town. 

Sect. 104. The board of visitors shall annul, by a major vote of 
the board, the certificates of such teachers as shall be found unquali- 
jfied, or who will not conform to the rules and the regulations adopted 
by the visitors, and shall submit to the town, at its annual meeting, a 
written account of their own doings and of the condition of the sev- 
eral schools within their limits, for the year preceding ; and said board 
may appoint a committee of one or two persons to exercise all, or such 
part of the powers, and perform all, or such part of the duties of 
said visitors as may be prescribed in the vote making the appointment, 
and the rules and regulations of said board, which committee shall be 
called the acting school visitor or visitors. 

Sect. 105. The acting school visitor or visitors shall visit the 
schools included in his or their appointment, in company with one or 
more of the visitors, or of the district committee, if such attendance 
can be obtained ; and such visits shall be made twice at least during 
each season of schooling, in conformity with the provisions of this act. 
He or they shall, unless otherwise directed by the visitors, spend at 
least half a day in each school visit; and shall make a full annual re- 



19 

port of the condition of said schools, and of all the important facts 
concerning the same, to the secretary of the board of education, on or 
before the first day of October, annually, and shall answer in writing 
all inquiries that may be propounded to him or them on the subject of 
common schools, by said secretary. He or they shall also prepare an 
abstract of such report, to be read at the annual meeting of said town. 
Sect. 106. The acting school visitor or visitors of every town 
shall receive, for the time actually employed in the performance of 
the duties prescribed in this act, the sum of one dollar and twenty-five 
cents each, per day, to be paid out of the treasury of the town in 
which the school-houses of the schools visited by him or them are sit- 
uated, if he or they shall have made his or their annual report in the 
manner prescribed in the preceding sections, and his or their account 
shall be approved by the visitors of the town. 

6. DISTRICT COMMITTEES. 

Sections. Sectioks. 

107. District committee to make report to schoollOS. If report not made, public money to be 
visitors ; subjects of report. -withlielcl. 

Sect. 107. The committee of every district shall, on or before the 
fifteenth day of September in each year, make a written report to the 
board of school visitors of the town, which shall state: 

1. The whole term for which a school or schools in such district 
shall have been kept by a qualified teacher or teachers during the year 
ending the thirty-first day of August, and how much of said term was 
winter school, and how much summer school. 

2. The amount of money received from the school fund of the state, 
town deposit fund, local funds, town tax, district tax, rate bills, and 
all contributions, whether in board, fuel, or otherwise, for the year 
ending the thirty-first day of August. 

3. The whole number of children between the ages of four and 
sixteen years, the number of each sex in the summer school, arid in 
the winter school, the average attendance both summer and winter of 
each sex, and the number of pupils attending school over sixteen years 
of age. 

4. The number of male, and of female teachers employed, and for 
how long a time each. 

5. The wages of male teachers per month, and of female teachers 
per week, including board, when received as a part of the teacher's 
compensation. 

6. The amount expended during the year for school buildings, for 
apparatus and library, and for other school purposes. 

7. The different branches taught in the schools, the number of pu- 
pils in each branch, the number of public examinations, lectures, visits, 
and by whom, and such other information as may be required by the 
board of visitors, or by the secretary of the board of education. 

Sect. 108. No district shall be entitled to receive its share of the 
public money from the state treasury, unless the report, required by 
the next preceding section, shall have been made by the committee of 
the district. 



20 



7. — TEACHERS. 

Sbctioks. Sectionb. 

109. Teachers must hare certificates of examin- 110. Teachers to keep register. 

ation and approbation from school Tisitors IH. When teacher not entitled to pay. 

before commencing school. 112. Examination of teachera, how conducted. 

Sect. 109. No teacher shall be employed in any school, supported 
by any portion of the public money, until he has received a certificate 
of examination and approbation, signed by a majority of the board of 
visitors, or by all the committee by them appointed, nor shall any 
teacher be entitled to draw any portion of his wages, so far as the 
same are paid out of any public money appropriated by law to schools, 
unless he can produce such certificate, dated previous to the opening 
of his school; but no new certificate shall be necessary, when the 
teacher is continued in the same school more than one term, unless the 
visitors shall require it. 

Sect. 110, Every teacher, in any common district school, shall 
enter in a book or a register, to be provided by the clerk, at the ex- 
pense of the district, the names of all the scholars attending school, 
their ages, the date when they commenced, the length of time they 
continued, and their daily attendance, together with the day of the 
month on which such school was visited by the school visitors of the 
town, or committee by them appointed ; which book or register shall 
be open at all times to the inspection of all persons interested, and 
shall be delivered over by the teacher, at the close of the term, to the 
district clerk, together with a certified abstract, showing the whole 
number of pupils enrolled, the number of males and females, and the 
average daily attendance. The teacher, so far as practicable, shall 
furnish to the district committee such information, with regard to mat- 
ters "kppertaining to the school, as such committee shall require. 

Sect. 111. No teacher shall be entitled to any pay for his services, 
who shall have neglected to perform the duties enjoined by the next 
preceding section. 

Sect. 112. All examination of teachers under the one hundred 
and third section of this act shall be conducted by a maprity of the 
board of school visitors, or by all the committee by them appointed. 

8. SCHOOL librakies. 

Sbctiohs. Sections. 

113. When payments may be made from state 115. Visitors may make regulations for district 
treasury for district libraries. libraries. 

114. Selection ofbooks to beapproved by visitors. 

Sect. 113. The treasurer of the state, upon the order of the sec- 
retary of the board of education, is hereby authorized and directed to 
pay over the sum of ten dollars, out of any moneys that may be in 
the public treasuxy, to every school district which shall raise by tax or 
subscription a like sum for the same purpose, to establish within such 
district a school library, and to procure philosophical and chemical 



21 

apparatas; and the further sum of five dollars annually, upon a like 
order, to the said districts, upon condition that they shall have raised 
a like sum for such year, for the purposes aforesaid. 

Sect. 114. The selection of books for such libraries shall be ap- 
proved by the board of visitors of each town. 

Sect. 115." The board of visitors of each town shall make proper 
rules and regulations for the management, use, and safe keeping, of 
such libraries. 



CHAPTER rV. 

^ OF STATE APPORTIONMENTS, TAXATION, AND EXPENSES. 

Sbctions. Sections. 

116. Income of school fund, how distrib-jted. 126. Visitors to certify in what districts schools 

117. Town tax and interest of town deposit hare not been legally kept. 

fund, how distributed. Least amoant of 127. Secretary of board of education to decide 
money to each district. when public money is forfeited. 

118. Excess of tax, how applied In districts ly-128. School money misapplied forfeited to the 
ing in two or more towns. state. 

119. Schools to be kept at least six months, and 129. Penalty for fraudulent certificate. 
to be Tisited twice each season ; penalty. 130, 131. District tax, how levied. 

120. District committees to make annual return 132. How to proceed when property in two or 
of names of children, &c. more districts is not entered separately on 

121. When district clerk to make returns. grand list. 

122. When one of school -visitors to make returns. 133. When real estate or polls have been omitted 

123. Returns to be sworn to-, form of return. from grand list. 

124. Visitors to examine and correct returns, 134. When property has been soU or conveyed 
and transmit to comptroller. Form of cer- since last grand list was completed, 
tificate. 135. Duty of assessors in the preceding cases. 

125. Keturns to school visitors how lodged, and 186. School districts may appoint a constable 
school money how drawn. Form of certifi- collector. 

cate by school visitors. 

Sect. 116. The income of the school fund, after deducting all ex- 
penses attending its management, shall be divided by the comptroller 
of public accounts, with the advice of the commissioner of the school 
fund, and distributed among the several towns, in proportion to the 
number of persons between four and sixteen years of age, as ascer- 
tained by the school visitors of such towns, in conformity with the 
provisions of this act. 

Sect. 117. The whole amount of money raised by the towns of 
this state, in accordance with the requirements of the fifty-seventh 
section of this act, and all the interest or income, arising from moneys 
known as the town deposit fund, shall annually, on or before the 
fourth day of March, be distributed to the several school districts, 
and parts of school districts, within the limits of each town, under 
the direction of the selectmen and school visitors ; but whenever the 
public money, derived from the school fund, will not amount, accord- 
ing to the rule of distribution, to thirty-five dollars for a district in 
any one year, the selectmen and school visitors shall appropriate from 
said funds a sum sufficient to make the amount equal to thirty-five 
dollars. 



22 

Sect. 118. In the distribution of the town school tax to parts of 
districts, or to joint districts, formed from two or more towns, when- 
ever either of such towns shall raise by tax, for school purposes, a 
greater amount than that required by law, the excess over such re- 
quired amount shall be applied towards the rate or tuition bills, (if 
any are made,) of such children, attending common school in said 
joint district, as belong to the same, and reside in the town in which 
said tax was collected. 

Sect. 119. No school district shall be entitled to any portion of 
the public money, unless the school in said district has been kept by 
a teacher or teachers, duly qualified, for at least six months in the 
3''ear, and visited twice during each season by its visitors, nor until 
the district committee shall ' certify that the public money, received 
by the district for the year previous, has been faithfully applied, and 
expended, in paying for the services of such teacher or teachers, and 
for no other purpose whatever. 

Sect. 120. The district committee shall annually, in the month 
of January, ascertain the name of every person over four and under 
sixteen years of age, who shall belong to such district on the first 
Monday of said month, and compose a part of the family of his pa- 
rents, guardians, or employers, together with the names of such pa- 
rents, guardians, or employers, and shall make return of the same to 
the school visitors of the town, to which such district belongs, on or 
before the twentieth day of January in each year ; but in such return, 
no persons shall be included, who are residing in such districts to at- 
tend a private school, or for other private purposes ; and such persons 
shall be enumerated in the district Avhere their parents or guardians > 
reside. 

Sect. 121. In case of the absence or inability of the district com- 
mittee to make the enumeration and return above required, the clerk 
of the district shall do the same, in the manner, and within the time 
before prescribed. 

Sect. 122. Whenever the committee and clerk of any school dis- 
trict shall omit to return, to the school visitors of the town, the enu- 
meration of the children in their respective districts, within the time 
prescribed by law, one of the school visitors of such town shall make 
such enumeration, before the first day of February in each year, and 
return the same to said school visitors ; and for making such enu- 
meration, such visitor shall be entitled to i*eceive five cents, for each 
child so enumerated, to be paid from the next dividend belonging to said 
district, which may thereafter be received from the town deposit fund. 

Sect. 123. The return, above required to' be made to the school 
visitors, shall be subscribed by the person making the same, and 
sworn to before a magistrate, according to the following form ; 

I do hereby certify, that I have carefully enumerated, according to 
law, all persons between the ages of four and sixteen years, within 
the school district, and do find, that on the first Monday of 

January, A. D. there were residing within said district, and 

belonging thereto, the number of persons between the ages 

aforesaid. 

A. B. 



On this day of A. D. personally appeared the 

above named A. B. and made oath to the truth of the above return 
by him subscribed, before me. 

C, D., Justice of the Peace. 

Sect. 124. The school visitors of the town shall examine and 
correct the returns made to them, so that no person shall be enumer- 
ated twice in different districts, or be improperly returned, and shall 
prepare and transmit to the comptroller of public accounts, on or be- 
fore the fifth day of February, annually, a certificate, in which the 
number of persons shall be inserted, at full length, which shall be 
sworn to according to the following form, to wit : 

We, the school visitors of the town of do certify, that from 

the returns made to us under oath, as by law provided, we find, that 
on the first Monday of January, A. D. there were residing with- 
in said town, and belonging thereto, the number of persons 
between the ages of four and sixteen years, and from the best in- 
formation we have obtained, we verily believe that said number is 
correct. 

>■ School Visitors. 

On this day of A. D. personally appeared the 

above named school visitors, and made oath to the truth of the above 
certificate by them subscribed, before me. 

C. D., Justice of the Peace. 

Sect. 125. The school visitors shall lodge the returns made to 
them with the treasurer of the town. The comptroller of public ac- 
counts, on the application of the school visitors of any town, shall 
draw an order on the treasurer for the amount, which such town may 
be entitled to, of all moneys appropriated by law, for the benefit, 
support, and encouragement of common schools, which may be in the 
treasury on the twenty-eighth day of February in each year ; but no 
order shall be drawn in favor of any town, until the school visitors 
shall certify, in writing, under their hands, iu the words following, to 
wit: 

" We, the school visitors of the town of do certify, that the 

schools in said town have been kept for at least six months in the 
year, ending the thirty-first day of August last, by teachers duly ex- 
amined and approved, and have been visited according to law ; and 
that the moneys drawn from the public treasury by said town for 
said year, appropriated to schooling, have been faithfully applied and 
expended in paying for the services of said teachers, and for no other 
purpose whatever. 

Dated at the day of A. D. 

[• School Visitors. 

To the Comptroller of Public Accounts. 

Sect, 126. Whenever the school in any school district shall not 
be kept according to law, the school visitors of the town, to which such 
district belongs, shall, in their certificate or certificates to the comp- 



24 

ti'oller for the year following, state such fact, and also the number of 
children enumerated in such district, and the comptroller, when ap- 
plication is made for the school moneys, payable to such town for said 
year, shall deduct from the whole number of children, enumerated in 
such town, the number contained in such district, and shall draw an 
order for the benefit of the remaining districts of such town. 

Sect. 127. In all cases of forfeiture of public money, under the 
one hundred and nineteenth section of this act, application shall be 
made to the secretary of the board of education, who shall examine 
the facts of each case, and decide, according to its equity, on the 
right of the applicants to receive the money so forfeited ; and the 
same shall be paid, as if no forfeiture had occurred, on his certificate 
to the comptroller of public accounts, in approbation of such pay- 
ment. 

Sect. 128. If any money, appropriated to the use of schools, shall 
be applied by a town, or a school district, to any other purpose, the 
same shall be forfeited to the state, and the comptroller shall sue for 
such money in behalf of the state, to be applied to the use of schools. 

Sect. 129. If any school visitor or school visitors shall, at any 
time, fraudulently make a false certificate, by which money shall be 
drawn from the treasury of this state, each person, so fraudulently 
making such certificate, shall forfeit the sum of sixty dollars to the 
state, to be recovered by action of debt on this statute, and the comp- 
troller shall bring a suit to recover the same. 

Sect. 130. Whenever a district shall impose a tax, the same shall 
be levied on all the real estate situated therein, and upon the polls, and 
other rateable estate, except real estate, situated without the limits of 
such district, of those persons who are residents therein, at the time 
of laying such tax ; and said real estate shall not be taxed by any 
school district except the one in which the same is situated ; and said 
tax shall be made out, and signed, by the district committee, from the 
assessment list, of the town or towns to which said district belongs, 
last completed, or next to be completed, as said district shall direct ; 
and no deduction or abatement shall be made on account of the in- 
debtedness of the owner of any estate so taxed, unless the debtor and 
creditor both reside in the same school district, where said real estate 
is taxed. 

Sect. 131. Such tax shall also be levied on the interest of all 
manufacturing and mechanical business, subject to taxation, which is 
located or carried on in said district, whether the owners reside there- 
in or not, except so far as the same may consist in real estate, situated 
out of the district ; and said interest so taxed shall not be taxed in 
any other school district. 

Sect. 132. Whenever real estate, situated in one district, is so 
assessed and entered in the grand list, in common with other estate, 
situated out of said district, that there is no distinct and separate 
value, put by the assessors upon the part lying in said district, then 
said district, wishing to lay a tax as aforesaid, may call on one or 
more of the assessors, for the time being, of the town in which said 



25 

property is situated, to assess, and they shall, on such application, 
assess the value of that part of said estate which lies in said district, 
and return the same to the clerk of said town ; and notice of such 
assessment, and of the meeting of the assessors and selectmen here- 
after mentioned, shall be given by the district committee, in the same 
way as a notice for school meetings ; and at the end of fifteen days, 
after said assessment has been returned as aforesaid, said assessors 
and selectmen shall meet in such place, as said district committee 
shall designate in such notice, and shall have the same power, in rela- 
tion to such list, as the board of relief has, in relation to such list of 
towns ; and when such list shall be perfected by said assessors and 
selectmen, the same shall be lodged with the town clerk, and said as- 
sessment shall be the rule of taxation for said estate, by said district, 
for the year ensuing, and said assessors shall be paid, by said district, 
a reasonable compensation for their services. 

Sect. 133. Whenever a district wishes to lay a tax, and there is 
real estate situated in said district, which has been neglected to be 
put into the assessment list of the town ; or, w^here there are polls 
in said district, liable to taxation, which have not been entered in said 
assessment list, such district may call on one or more of the assessors, 
for the time being, of the town in which such neglect has occurred, 
who shall assess the value of such real estate, make a list of said polls, 
and add such property and polls to the list of the district, wishing to 
lay said tax. 

Sect. 134. Whenever a district wishes to lay a tax, and lays the 
same on the town list last completed, and any real estate has been 
sold and conveyed, or in any way changed ownership, between the 
time when said list was completed, and the time of laying said tax, 
such district may call out one or more of the assessors, for the time 
being, of the town in which such sale, conveyance, or change of prop- 
erty has occurred, who shall assess the value of said real estate, to 
the person owning the same, at the time of laying said tax, and de- 
duct the same from the list of the person, in whose name it stood on 
the assessment list of the town. 

Sect. 135. The assessors, in performing the duties mentioned in 
the two preceding sections, shall proceed in the manner prescribed 
for assessing real estate, in the one hundred and thirty-second section 
of this act. 

Sect. 136. The several school districts may appoint either of the 
constables of the town or towns, in which such school district may be 
situated, to be collector of the taxes of such school district, whether 
such constable belongs to said district or not, and the constable, ap- 
pointed such collector, on receiving any rate, tax, or assessment bill, 
from the committee of any such school district, shall forthwith collect 
the same, and pay the amount of such bill or bills into the treasury 
of such school district, and said constable shall be allowed such fees 
for collecting the same, as are allowed to collectors of town taxes. 



26 



TITLE XIIL 



CHAPTER IV. 

OF CHILDREN AND MINORS EMPLOYED IN LABOR. 

Sections. Sections. 

47. Children under fifteen years of age not to be 51. Constables and grand jurors to give iaform- 
em ployed in labor unless instructed in school ation. 

three months each year. 52. Complaints, to whom to be made. 

48. Certificate of teacher, eTidence. Duty of 56. Towns may make and enforce by-laws respect- 
school visitors. ing truants and vagrant children. 

49. Ten hours a legal day's work. 57. Such children to be committed to suitable 

50. Children under ten years not be employed institutions. 

in or about a factory. No minor under 58. Who may prosecute. 

eighteen years of age to be employed more 59. Warrants, before whom returnable. 

than twelve hours a day. Penalty. 

Section 47. No child, under the age of fifteen years, shall be em- 
ployed to labor in any manufacturing establishment, or in any other 
business in this state, unless such child shall have attended some public 
or private day school, where instruction is given by a teacher qualified 
to instruct in orthography, reading, writing, English grammar, geog- 
raphy, or arithmetic, at least three months of the twelve, next pre- 
ceding any and every year, in which such child shall be so employed ; 
and the owner, agent, or superintendent of any manufacturing estab- 
lishment, who shall employ any child in such establishment, contrary 
to the provisions of this section, shall forfeit, for each offense, a penalty 
of twenty-five dollars, to the treasurer of the state. 

Section 48. A certificate, signed and sworn to by the instructor 
of the school, where any child may have attended, that such child has 
received the instruction aforesaid, shall be deemed sufiicient evidence 
of the fact; and the school visitors of the several towns, -personally, 
or by a committee by them appointed, annually, and as often as they 
shall think proper, shall examine into the situation of the children 
employed in the several manufacturing establishments in their respect- 
ive towns, and ascertain whether the foregoing requirements are duly 
observed, and report all violations thereof to some informing officer, to 
the intent that prosecutions may be instituted therefor; and all inform- 
ing officers shall prosecute for all such violations. 

Section 49. Ten hours of labor, done and performed in any one 
day, by any one person, in any mechanical or manufacturing estab- 
lishment, shall be deemed to be a lawful day's work, unless otherwise 
agreed by the parties. 

Section 50. No proprietor of any manufacturing, or mechanical, 
establishment, or person carrying on business in any such establish- 
ment, as lessee, or in any other manner, or person having charge of 



27 

ally such establishment, shall employ, or suflEer to be employed, in or 
about such establishment, any child under ten years of age; and no 
such person shall employ, or suffer to be employed, in any such estab- 
lishment, any minor under eighteen years of age, more than twelve 
hours in any one day, nor more than sixty-nine hours in any one week. 
Every person, who shall violate either provision of this section, shall 
pay a fine of twenty dollars to the treasury of the town in which such 
offense shall have been committed. 

Section 51. The several constables, and grand jurors, in their re- 
spective towns shall inquire after, and make presentment of, all offenses 
against the provisions of the preceding sections. 

Section 52. All complaints for offenses, against any of the pro- 
visions of the fiftieth section of this chapter, may be heard and deter- 
mined by a justice of the peace, but the accused may appeal from the 
judgment of such justice of the peace, to the superior court next to be 
holden in the county, in which the offense is alleged to have been com- 
mitted. 

OF TRUANTS AND VAGRANT CHILDREN. 

Section 56. Each town shall make all needful provisions, and 
arrangements, concerning habitual truants, and also concerning children 
wandering about the streets, or public places, of any city, or town, hav- 
ing no lawful occupation, or business, nor attending school, and grow- 
ing up in ignorance, between the ages of seven and sixteen years ; 
and shall also make such by-laws, respecting such children, as shall be 
most conducive to .their welfare, and the good order of such city or 
town; and suitable penalties shall be annexed to such by-laws, not ex- 
ceeding twenty dollars for any one breach ; but said by-laws shall be 
approved Jjy the superior court sitting in any county in the state. 

Section 57. Any minor, convicted of being an habitual truant, or 
any child, convicted of wandering about in the streets, or public places, 
of any city, or town, having no lawful business, nor attending school, 
and growing up in ignorance, between the ages of seven and sixteen 
years, may, at the discretion of the justice or the court having juris- 
diction of the case, instead of the fine mentioned in the preceding 
section, be committed to any such institution of instruction, house of 
reformation, or suitable situation as may be provided for the purpose 
by such city or town, under the authority of the preceding sections, 
for such time, not exceeding two years, as such justice or court may 
determine. 

Section 58. The several cities and towns shall appoint, at the 
annual meetings of such towns, or annually, by the mayor and alder- 
men of such cities, three or more persons, who alone shall be author- 
ized to prosecute for violation of such by-laws. 

Section 59. Warrants, issued under the three preceding sections, 
shall be returnable to any justice of the peace, or judge of the poHce 
court of the town or city; and the justice, or judge, shall receive such 
compensation, as the city or town may determine. 



INDEX TO THE SCHOOL LAWS. 



Acting School Visitors, see Visitors. page. 

Annual meetings of district when and where held, - - - 12 

Apparatus for schools, how furnished, ----- 20-21 

Appeal of district from town action, ----- lo 

Assessments, town lists the lists for school districts, - - - 24 
Assessors on application to assess separately property lying in different 

districts, ._-.-_-- 25 

Boardof Education of the State, how constituted, - - - - 3 

powers and duties of - - - 3 

secretary of - - - . 3 

Boundary lines of districts, how altered, ----- n 

how defijed, - - - - . - 13 

Clerk, district, when and how acpointed, ----- 14 

duties of, " ----- 14. 

to be sworn, - - - - - - 14 

must provide school register, - - - - 20 

Children under fifteen to attend school at least three months each year, 26 

under ten years not to be employed in factories, - - 26-27 

truant or vagrant, towns to make by laws respecting, - - 27 

Collectors, district, when and how appointed, - - - - 14 

powers and duties of, - . _ 14 and 17 

when required to give bonds, - - 14-15 

constable of town may be appointed, - 25 

Committee, district, when and how appointed, - - - - 14 

powers and duties of, - - - _ 14 

required to visit schools twice each term, - - 14 
shall provide books for poor children at expense of district, 14 

may suspend or expel unruly pupils, - - - 14 

written report required of. - - - - 19 

subjects for report of, ----- 19 

penalty for refusing to serve, - . _ 14 

Compensation for land taken as school house site, how determined, - 15-16 

of school visitors, - - - - - -19 and 22 

of Secretarj"- of State Board of Education, - _ 4 

Comptroller and Commissioner to divide income of school fund, - 21 

to draw orders on Treasurer for public money, - ■- 23 

in favor of certain organised districts, - 7 

to withhold public money when schools have not been legally 

kept, 23-24 

to sue, in behalf of State, for public money forfeited, - 24 

Consolidation of districts, how effected, - - - - - 10 

Consolidated districts, property of how equalized, - - - ip 

town may appoint committee for, - - - 10 

Constables may be appointed collectors of district taxes, - - 25 

to make presentment of violations of law respecting minors, 26 

Conventions of teachers, held annually in each county, - - - 4 

expenses of, how defrayed, - _ . 4 

District Clerk, see Clerk, — District Collector, see Collector, — District 

Committee, see Committee,— District Treasurer, see Treasurer. 

Districts aggrieved by action of town, may appeal to superior court, - 10 

annual meeting when and where held, - - .- - 12 

may appoint a constable collector, - - - - 25 

boundary lines, how altered, . _ _ _ n 

how defined, - - - - - 13 

consolidation of, ,- - - - - - - 10 

corporate powers of, ------ 13 



30 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Districts, division or dissolution of, .... - n 

enumeration of cliildreu, ... - - 22 

formed or dissolved, .--..- H 

limits of to be placed on district and town records, - - 13 

name or number to be recorded, . . _ . 13 

meetings of, annual, when and where to be held, . - - 12 

officers then to be chosen, ... 12 

special, when to be called, - - - - 12 

place of how determined, ... 12 

notice of, five days required, - . _ _ 12 

manner of giving, - ' - - 12-13 

by whom to be called, ----- 12 

who may vote in, - - - _ - 13 

penalty for illegal voting in, - - - - 13 

new, to contain at least 40 enumerated children, - - 11 
notice required of proposed removal of persons, or taxable 

property, to another district by change of boundary, - 11 

officers of, who, when and where chosen, . -' _ 14 

when to be appointed by school visitors, - - 14 

property of, how to be taxed, ----- 11 

lying in two or more towns, how taxed, - - 11 

not assessed in town list, how to be added, - 25 

consolidated, how equalized, - - - - 10 

' divided, how distributed, - - - - 12 

real estate in, not entered separately in grand list, how assessed, 25 
to be set in list of persons owning it at time of laying 

district tax, - . - - 25 

receive at least 35 dollars, ----- 21 

receive public money, on what conditions, - - - 19, 22 

scholars in, where no school is kept, how provided for, - - 15 
site of school house to be fixed by two-thirds vote, or by the 

school visitors, - - 15 

may take land for, how, - - - 15 
site may be taken by for out-buildings &c., where houses have been 

already erected, ------ 16 

site of school-house, compensation for, if district and owner of land 

cannot agree, to petition superior court, - - - 15 

or either judge, if court not in session, 16 

court to appoint committee, - - 15 

powers and duties of such committee, 15 
if report of committee rejected, court 

may appoint another, - - 16 
report when accepted to have effect of 

judgment against petitioners, - 16 

land not to be used till judgment is paid, 16 

district to pay services of committee, 16 

tax, how levied, ------- 24 

in two or more towns, how formed and dissolved, - - - 11 

where to belong, - - , - 11 

Enumeration of all persons between 4 and 16 years of age, - - - 22 

when and by whom to be made, - - . - 22 

to be made by clerk of district, - - - - 22 

one of school visitors, - - 22 
returns of to be made upon oath,- - - - - - . 22 

form of return, ------- 22-23 

returns of, school visitors to examine, correct, and transmit to 

comptroller, ----- 23 

to be lodged with town treasurer, - - 23 

form of return to comptroller, ----- 23 

in districts lying in two or more towns, - - - 17 

Expenses of teachers' conventions, how defrayed, - _ _ - 4 
Grand jurors to make presentment of violations of the law respecting em- 

ploj'ment of children and minors, - - - _ 27 

High schools, to be subject to management of school visitors, - - 8 

Libraries, treasurer authorized to pay for support of, - . - 20 

selection of books to be approved by visitors, - - 21 

school visitors to make rules and regulations for, - - - 21 
Meetings. See District. 

Minors under eighteen to be employed not more than twelve hours each day, 27 



INDEX. 31 

PAGE. 

New districts, first meeting, time, place, and object to be designated by- 
selectmen, ---.--- 8 
Notices, see District meetings. 

Officers of districts, to exercise same powers and duties as corresponding •<, 

town officers, ----- 14 

penalty for refusing to serve, - - - 14 

Property, corporate, of consolidated districts, how owned, - - - 12 

of divided districts, how distributed, - - 12 

sold or convej'ed since last grand list, how taxed, - - 25 

Public money to be withheld -unless district committee's report is made, 19 

when forfeited, secretary of board of education to decide, - 24 

when misapplied forfeited to the State, - _ - 24 

Real estate. See Property. 

Eecords of school societies to be kept with town records, - - 5 

Register, form of to be prescribed by State board, - - - - 3 

book for to be provided by clerk of district, - - - 20 

to contain what, -- - - - - - 20 

to be kept by teacher, _-_•-- 20 

penalty, against teacher for not keeping, - - - - 20 

Reports of district committee to be made to school visitors, - - 19 

subjects of, - - - - - 19 

penalty if not made, - - - - 19 

to be made upon oath, - - - 22 

form of return, . - _ 22-23 

of acting school visitors to be made to comptroller, - - 28 

Scholars, enumeration of, ------- 23 

in districts where no school is kept, how provided for, - - 12 

Schools, towns to be provided for support of, - - - - 5 

business relating to, to be transacted in town meetings, - - 5 

must be kept at least six months a year, . - - 22 
School districts, see Districts. 

fund, income of how distributed, ----- 21 

houses, how to be built, ------ jg 

maj' be allowed to be used for private schools, - - 12 

to be satisfactory to school visitors, _ _ - 17 

penalty if they are not, ----- 17 

site of to be fixed by two-thirds vote, - - 15 

in certain cases by school visitors, - 15 
libraries, see Libraries. 

societies, records of how preserved, , . _ . 5 

funds or indebtedness of, how divided, . - - 5 

under act of 1855 to become districts, - - - 6 

to choose a board of education, - 6 

powers and duties of such board, - 6 

to have exclusive control of funds, buildiugs, 

&c., belonging to them, - - 6 

other may avail themselves of the same privileges, - - 6 

money of district not maintaining' school to be distributed to other 

districts, _----.- 15 

forfeited when, 9, 19, 2-3-24 

visitors. See Visitors. 
Secretary of Board of Education, how appointed, . - _ 3 
duties of, - - - - - 3 
to decide when public money has been forfeited, - - 24 
to draw orders on treasurer ibr school libraries, &c., - - 20 
Selectmen, to manage funds, ----., -8 
to settle boundaries of districts, ---«■_ 8 
to designate time, place, and object of first meeting in a new dis- 
trict, 8 

Superior court, to determine in certain cases compensation for school house 

site, --------15 

Taxation in districts lying in two or more towns, . - _ n^ 22 

Taxes by towns for schools required, ------ 9 

forfeiture of public money if not laid, - - - 9 

Taxes in districts, how levied, ------ 24 

not to be levied in more than one district on same property, 24 

on property lying in difi'erent districts, how assessed, - - 24-25 

or polls omitted from gi-and list, - - - 25 

sold or conveyed since last grand list, - - 25 



32 INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Teachers, how to be examined, - - - - - - 20 

must receive from school visitors certificates of examination and 

approval before opening school, - - - - 20 

required to keep a register, ----- 20 

penalty for neglect to keep register, - - _ - 20 
conventions, how held, ------. 4 

expenses of, how defrayed, - - - - 4 

to certify on oath as to schooling of children employed in factories, 26 

Town deposit fund, income of, how distributed, - - - - 21 

Towns to provide for su])port of schools, - - - - 5 

to hold local school funds, ------ 5 

to elect school visitors, ------ 7 

school fund treasurer, when ----- 8 

powers of in respect to schools, - - . - g 

shall transact school business at town meetings, - - - 8 

on what terms entitled to public money, - _ - g 

to raise money for schools by taxation, - . _ . 9 

manner of distributing such money, - - - - 9 

penalty for not raising it, - - - - '- - 9 

maj"- form, alter, and dissolve districts, - - - 11 

may take land for school house sites, - - - . 9 

may authorize orders on town treasurer when, - - 9 

may consolidate districts into one, - - - ■ - - 9 

may appoint committee for consolidated districts, - - 9 

may appoint committee for high school, - " - - - 9 

tax, amount required to be raised, - - - _ 9 

raised, how to be distributed, - - - - 21 

to make and enforce by-laws respecting truant and vagrant chil- 
dren, --------27 

to appoint officers to enforce such by-laws, ... - 27 

Treasurer, of state, when to pay monej^ for district libraries, - - 20 

district, when and how appointed, . - - - 12 

duties of, ------ 14 

when required to give bonds, - - - 14—15 

Truants, towns to make by-laws respecting, - - - - - 27 

Tuition, rate of limited to six dollars a year, . - - - 17 

to twelve dollars for high schools, — - - 17 

how determined, - - - - ■ - - 17 

exemption from how obtained, ----- 17-18 

bills, how made out and collected, . - - . 17 
Union districts under act of 1841 to be managed according to provisions of 

that act, - - --- - - - 12 

vagrant children, towns to make by-laws respecting, - 27 

Visitors, when and how appointed, ------ 7 

vacancies in board of, how filled, _ - - _ 7 

term of office, ------- 7 

authority of restricted in certain ^ases, - - - 7 

authorized to draw orders on town treasurer when, - - 9 

duties of - - - - . - - '- 18 

to visit and regulate high schools, - - . - - - 8 
may delegate part of their duties to a committee of their own 

number, ------- ig 

acting, their duties and compensation, - - - - 18—19 

may annul certificate of unqualified teachers, - - - 18 
to certify to comptroller that schools have been kept according to 

law, -------- 23 

form of such certificate, ----- 23 

to certify in what districts schools have not been kept according 

to law, --------23 

penalty, for fraudulent certificate, . . - - 24 

to appoint district officei-s, when - - - - - 14 

to enumerate children, when ----- 22 

to ascertain situation of children employed in manufactories, - 26 

report violations of the law respecting such children, - - 26 



jfiim^^SssE'^ 



SM 975 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



020 975 504 P 



